Silo



s. w. WETZEL.

SILO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. I92I4.

Patented May 16, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

t' r lill-Iii" lll-mm G. W. WET-ZEL.

SILO. APPLICATION FIVLED APR. 28. 192|.

Patented May 16, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

www WWEIZEL vINVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

GEORGE "WILB'UR 1WIll'l.ZlilIi-, OF MACOIVIB, ILLINOIS.

SILO.

T 0 all whom may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE W. VnrZnL, a citizen oit' the United States, residing at Macomb, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Silo, Vof which the following is a speciiication. Y

Thisk invention relates to a silo and 1s more particularly directed to a novel means for effecting yclosure of an entrance to the interior of the silo.

Heretofore, in order to gain access to the material stored in the silo and provide a passage for the removal of the material, it was necessary to build an additional compartment to the silo proper which extended vertically to the full height of the structure, and which was constructed exterior to the body of the building. This compartment or chamber formed a chute and was provided with a ladder in order that workmen might be able to reach the top of the siloand deliver material down the chute when desired after the silo had been tilled.

Some form of removable partition or door extending the full length or' the silo Closed the chute from the silo proper. This former construction obviously necessitated building an expensive addition and likewise weakened the structure by reason of the vertical opening which extended through the'ull height of the building, and since it is a matter of common knowledge that a building lcylindrical or polygonal in form without any interruptions to its contour is one of the most substantial structures that can be built, I propose to construct a silo having all the advantages of previous structures but without their defects.

It is not alone an .object of my invention to eliminate any additional structure to the silo, but to preserve its strength by disposing of all vertical openings in its walls that would extend throughout any great portion of its height.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved door for the silo which, cooperating with the walls of the same, divides the structure into a storage space for storing material, and a chute through which a person may gain access to the top of the storage space and Serial No. 465,295.

deliver the material to the ground for removal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved door which is composed of sections, each section being hingedly mounted on the wall independently of the other sections so that as the material behinda section has been removed, the section of the door may be swung back against the wall of the silo.

lAnother object of the invention is the provision of a new. and improved bracing means for each door and forming a part thereof which inay'be used as a ladder for reaching the top of the silo when said silo has been iilled.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved sectional door which cooperates with the walls of the silo to form a chute, providing a means otentrance to the silo, and constituting a partition for separating the silo into two compartments, the chute being provided with a small entrance from the exterior and a door for closing the same, thus sealingv the silo from exterior influence.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved sectional door, each section having oppositely beveled edges at its top and bottom which cooperate in overlapping relation with the edges of the adjacent sections of the door.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a new and improved hinging means for the door which not only'acts as a means for swinging the doors but provides a latching means for the free end of lthe door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved means by which the metal parts on the door are excluded from coming in contact with the material stored in the silo.

The invention will be best understood from a considerationot the following detailed ydescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this speciiication, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not'confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and Imodified so long as such changes and modifications niark no material departure troni the salient `tentures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

ln the drawings:w

1 is a view in elevation of the silo.

Fig 2 is a vertical section ot the silo disclosing the sectional door which provides a chute Within the silo.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the door.

Fig. l is an elevation of a section of the door showing the combined hinging and latching means and the bracing means Which are adapted to be used yas the rungs of a ladder.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the door in cross section, detailing my improved hinging means.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the other end et the door in cross section detailing my improved manner of employing the other end of the hinge as a latching means.

in the drawings, 1 designates the base or foundation of a silo; 2, a Wall, which may be of any geometrical design, such as cylinvdrioal or polygonal; 3, the roof; and e, an

opening formed in the lower portion of the Wall to provide an entrance to the body o'f the silo. To the interior of the Wall 2 `are secured a hinge j amb and a latch 'jamb G, in any manner, as by bolts 7. The bolts either have one end embedded in the Walls or pass through perforations in the Walls. These jambs, which are made in suitable lengths and may be of cypress, tile or cement, have a groove 8 running longitudinally in that portion which is secured to the wall and which groove is filled with cement 9 in order to provide an air-tight joint between the Wall and jamb.

The door is composed oit a number ot sections 10. Each section is formed by bolting to semi-cylindrical hinge plates 1 1 a series ot tongue and groove staves 12 and braced by rods 13 which are bolted to the interior of the semi-cylindrical section by the bolts 14. @ne end of the hinge plate has an eye 15 adapted to be hingedly mounted en apin 16 which is secured into the hinged jamb YIlle other end of the hinge plate is bent inwardly, as at 17, from the free end of the door and provided with a slot 18 which is adapted to receive the staple 19 secured in the latch jamb 6. A chain 20 fastened on the door and provided with a hook 21 at its other end engages the staple to prevent the locking means from being disturbed` 1t will be noted from an inspection of Figs, 3 and 5 that the portion of the hinge "which is pivoted upon the pin 16 rests partly lWithin a recess 22 in the door frame and partly Within a recess 24 of the hinge jamb 5, in order that that portion of the hinge will be protected Ifrom the material in the silo. Thev tree end .of the door seats snugly -within a longitudinal groove 23 formed in the latch jamb d The top and bottom ol each section of the door are oppositely beveled. to engage in overlapping relation the beveled edges oit the adjacent doors. These sections of the doors are in vertical alinement, and as the hinged portion ot the sections ot the door lit Within the longitudinal slot 24 ot the hinge 5, the tree end of the door lits Within the longitudinal slot 23 of the latch j amb 6 and the oppositely beveled tops and bottoms of the sections engage in overlapping relation with the beveled edges oi the tops and bottoms ot the adjacent doors, there will be provided an air-tight seal When the material stored in the silo presses out- Wardly against the doors t0 firmly lock the sections of the doors in position.

The greater the pressure in the silo, the more securely Will the doors engage the wall and insure a tight closure. By supplying 'a door at the bottom of the silo to eiiect a closure oit the entrance li, a thoroughly sealed and substantially air-tight silo is provided. A port 25 formed between the root' and the Wall provides means of ventilation for the silo.

An opening 26 enclosed by the glass doors 27 provides a means for filling the silo.

1n order to lill the silo all the doors are opened and placed against the inside ot the Wall except the bottom door. Suthcient material is delivered to the silo through the opening `26 and tamped until the material. reaches the level ot the top ot the first sectiom when the second section. is closed, and again material is filled in through tbe opening` 26 until the level of the top of the secon d section is reached, and so on the vlilling is continued until the Whole silo is Full. rl-he pressure Within securely holds the doors in position. ln order to remove the contents, a Workman gaining access to the interior of the chute by means of the entrance 4 will climb the brace bars 13, which act in a. novel manner as rungs, to reach the top of the silo." He Will throw olf from the interior of the silo down the chute sufficient material until he is permitted to open tho uppermost section of the door which he swings back against the Wall. Then the contents of a second section is removed from the chute, and so on until the contents has been entirely removed.

What is claimed is l. A silo comprising an outer WalL an openingin said wall, and inwardly swinging door 'for said opening comprising series of sections hingedly mounted on and cooperating With the Wall of the silo to form an auxiliary chamber Within the silo.

2. A silo, comprising an outer Wall. an opening` in said Wall, and a door tor said opening comprising a series of inwardly swinging sections hingedly mounted on and cooperating with the wall to forman auX- iliary chamber within the silo, and means on said door sections for bracing ythe same, said means being adapted to provide a way for climbing to the top of the silo, the hinged mounting of the sections of the door adapted to support the sections in open position.

3. A silo. comprising lan outer wall, an opening in said wall, an inwardly swinging door `for said opening comprising a series of sections hingedly7 mounted on and cooperating with the wall to form an auX- iliary chamber within the silo, the hinged mounting of said door sections adapted to support the same in open position., and means for locking the free ends of the sections to the wall.

4. A silo, comprising an outer wall, and an opening in said wall, an inwardly swinging sectional ladder hingedly mounted on the wall of and within the silo and forming a partition for dividing the silo into compartrnents, the sections of the ladder ad apt ed to. be held iirmly in position by pressure of silage within the silo.

5. A silo, comprising an outer wall, an opening in said silo, a series of substantially semi-circular inwardly swinging frames in vertical alinement and hingedly mounted on the wall, said sections dividing the silo into two compartments, the hinged mounting of said frames adapted to support the frames in open position.

6. A silo, comprising an outer wall, an opening in said wall, an inwardly swinging door comprising a series ot sections in vertical alinement and substantially semin circular in cross section hingedly mounted. on the inner portion of the wall, and bracing members for said doors forming a ladder.

7. A silo, comprising an outer wall, an opening in said wall at its lower end, a door comprising a series of inwardly swinging sections in vertical alinement and hingedly mounted on the wall, said sections when closed cooperating with the wall to form an auxiliary chamber within the silo and adapted to close communication between the silo and its exterior, the hinged mounting of the sections being adapted to support the sections in open position.

8. A silo, comprising an outer wall, an opening in said wall, door jambs secured on said wall running the full height of said wall, means for sealing said jambs to the wall, a series ot doors in vertical alinement hingedly mounted on one of said jambs, the free end of said doors being adapted to be locked on the other jamb, said doors cooperating with the inner wall of the silo to form an auxiliary chamber within the silo and provide a passage to the interior of said silo.

9. A silo, comprising an outer wall provided with a rooi', an opening in said wall, a door for said opening, strap hinges secured on the doors, one end oiwhich forming :i pivotal connection between the door and the wall, the other end of said hinges Yforming a latching means lior the free end of the door, said door being so spaced 'from the wall oi? the silo as to form an auxiliary chamber within the silo.

10. A silo,`comprising an outer wall and a top, an opening in said. wall, a door for said opening comprising a series ot hinged sections in vertical alinement adapted to divide the silo into separate chambers, each door section having its upper and lower edges beveled to engage the beveled edges of the adjacent sections, and brace bars mounted at spaced intervals on each section oi" the door and adapted to form a ladder, the cooperating beveled edges of the adjacent doors, when said doors are in closed position, presenting` an unbroken surface upon both sides of the aligned doors.

l1. A silo comprising an outer wall, spaced jambs provided with grooves and. secured to the inner surta-ce of said wall, a door comprising a series of sections hingedly mounted on one of the jambs, the pivotal portion of the hinge being seated within the grooves in one of the jambs, the free ends of the sections of the door being adapted to fit into a groove in the other jamb.

12. A, silo comprising an outer wall having an opening therein at the bottom, vertical ambs provided at opposite sides of said opening on the inside of said wall and ei;- tending to the top oli' the silo, and a door comprisinga series of superposed sections arranged within the outer wall, each section being curved and having a hinged connec tion with one of said ambs and a detachable lool; connection with the other jamb, said door defining an auxiliary chamber within the walls of the silo, access to which chamber may be obtained at either the top or bottom of the silo.

13. A silo comprising an outer wall having an opening therein at the bottom, vertical jambs provided at opposite sides of aid opening on the inside of said wall and extending to the top of the silo, said jambs being each provided with vertical recesses, and a door comprising a series of superposed sections arranged within the outer wall, each section being curved and having a hinged connection with one oi said jambs and a detachable lock connection with the other amb, the outer edges of each section being seated in the recesses ot said jambs, said door deiining an auxiliaryr chamber within the walls of the silo, access to which chamber may be obtained at either the top or bottom of the silo.

14. A silo comprising an outer wall havting an opening therein, door jambe seeure to the interior of said Wall. at opposte sidee of Said opening and extending from top to bottom of the Wall, a door arranged on the interior of said Wall and dehiug im :mx-

out the length of each section, means for 10 hingedly Connecting one end of each plate to one of the jambe, and means for detachahljy connecting the other end of each plate to the other jamb.

n teetmony that I claim the foregoing 15 as my own, I have heretoexed my signature.

GEORGE WILBUR WETZEL. 

